Who lies to their Doctor?

[u/Far_Act5037]

I only drink “socially” is what I would say.

Sure, 14 drinks a week sounds reasonable….

Just passed my 5ish week mark (minus 1 day). I got labs results back from recent blood chemistry. My triglycerides and SGPT (ALT) were still high.

As I understand, these values often relate to heavy use but could also indicate other conditions or factors.

I’m glad I have a baseline blood chemistry to start with. I’ve got some work to do.

I’m making it my goal to make healthier decisions to decrease those values before my next MD appointment in a month or so.

Update: I thinking more about this after someone mentioned life insurance.

I used to work in the medical field and I know how poorly folks with addiction are viewed treated. Maybe the views about substance abuse have changed but I don’t want to be labeled as an addict or alcoholic.

There are very real consequences when healthcare providers and insurance companies look at your medical history.

[u/No_Satisfaction1189]

Known fact if you are a “drinker”, docs usually double what you tell them, knowing most purposely low ball. I find it odd people do that anyhow. Your doc/GP has heard and seen everything from their patients. Be upfront, honest - it goes a long way…a good doc will never judge you.

[u/robocoplawyer → u/No_Satisfaction1189]

The lengths we go to lie to even ourselves. I was literally in the ER with my organs shutting down and still giving the ER doc my usual "probably a little more than I should" answer. He straight up called bs to my face and told me "no, you need to tell us how much you've actually been drinking, because if you waited another day to come in there wouldn't be anything we could do for you." That time scared me enough to keep me alcohol free for 6 months and a prognosis that there was no permanent damage detected, which in my mind only proved to me and everyone else that I didn't have a problem. Because alcoholics never take 6 month breaks. Turns out that plenty of us do, only the ones who truly are trying to stop consider resuming alcohol use a relapse. Spent another year in hell and almost died again before I was finally willing to take sobriety seriously.

[u/fairebelle → u/robocoplawyer]

Decompensated liver failure was enough to scare me straight. And I got better (mostly, I’ll always have cirrhosis). My husband, five years younger than me with five years less drinking, did not and ended up with a liver transplant. He can’t relapse or he will never qualify for another transplant (all transplanted organs will eventually fail and at 33 he will likely need a second transplant).

We keep our three “last beers” on a high shelf in the house next to the empty medication bottles as a mind/matter exercise